Mardi Gras in New Orleans

February 9th is Mardi Gras, 2016 and this week, in honor of the upcoming Mardi Gras celebration, Friday Blues Fix will look at some of the Crescent City’s finest piano players.  Though New Orleans is mainly known for its jazz, funk, and R&B pioneers, the city also boasts a pretty strong blues circuit as well, though like all music from N.O., it touches on several different styles besides the blues.

This week, in honor of the upcoming Mardi Gras celebration, FBF will look at four of the Crescent City’s finest piano players.  Though New Orleans is mainly known for its jazz, funk, and R&B pioneers, the city also boasts a pretty strong blues circuit as well, though like all music from N.O., it touches on several different styles besides the blues.

We don’t hear a lot of piano on FBF for some reason…..what better opportunity to hear it than when you’re talking about New Orleans.  Here’s the legendary Professor Longhair with a longtime favorite song of his…..”Mess Around.”  This song was first made famous by Ray Charles in the 50’s, but Fess made it his own and it was always a show-stopper for him.  Fess featured R&B, reggae, calypso, and even a little jazz in his music.  Reportedly, the piano he learned to play on was missing a few keys, which may have accounted for his unusual playing style.  While he may not have been the best piano man in New Orleans, he was certainly the most beloved.  

Of course, you can't talk about Fess without including what is, for many, the Mardi Gras anthem "Go To The Mardi Gras."  He first recorded it in 1959 for Ron Records, but he also re-recorded it many times, this version is from the same album that produced the version of "Mess Around" above.....Rock n' Roll Gumbo.

Next up is a man who many consider the greatest New Orleans piano player, James Booker.  Booker was eccentric even by New Orleans standards (and deserves a full post of his own in the near future).  His influences ranged from Professor Longhair to Chopin to Meade Lux Lewis and he sometimes incorporated them all into the same song.  He didn't release much music during his life, but it's all amazing and incredible to hear.  One of Booker’s favorite songs was Lead Belly’s “Goodnight Irene,” and this performance from New Orleans in 1976 is one of his best.  Second is a rollicking take on "So Swell When You're Well," from his long-lost 1973 session recorded in California backed by some of New Orleans' best musicians.  Despite his massive talent, Booker squandered break after break before dying of a heroin overdose in 1983, leaving a lot of fans to wonder about what might have been.  

The late Allen Toussaint almost single-handedly carried the New Orleans R&B movement through the 60's and 70's as a producer, writer, artist, and piano player, moving from soul and R&B in the 60's to the gritty funk of the 70's.  Many of his songs have become standards over the years, not just in New Orleans, but generally in old school R&B and soul.  The first instrumental, "Bono," comes from his early days of recording.....circa 1958, for RCA Records.  The second one is a version of  the song, "Java," which Toussaint wrote in 1958 with New Orleans sax legend Alvin "Red" Tyler, and which later became a smash hit for Al Hirt.  Toussaint kept a pretty low profile over the years, but without his contributions, music fans wouldn't have nearly as much to enjoy.

We’ll continue with Dr. John.  Dr. John has been around the New Orleans scene since the 60’s, playing guitar and piano on many sessions in the 60’s, before taking off on his own with a spicy mix of R&B and funk, including the hit “Right Place, Wrong Time” in the early 70’s.  Though the hits have been scarce since then, he’s recorded some wonderful discs, including several tribute discs to his hometown of New Orleans, Dr. John's Gumbo and Goin’ Back To New Orleans.  On Gumbo, Dr. John paid tribute to the New Orleans' R&B pioneers who paved the way for his success, covering many of the R&B classics of the previous decade or so, such as the Dixie Cups hit, "Iko Iko."  

For Goin' Back To New Orleans, Dr. John covered a wider span, paying tribute to many of his idols, including Booker, Fess, Louis Armstrong, and Fats Domino.  This song, “How Come My Dog Don’t Bark (When You Come ‘Round),” was an old Crescent City song made popular by Prince Partridge in the 50’s.

We’ll hang in with the good Doctor for the closer today with the title track from Goin’ Back To New Orleans.  This is a cool track featuring a host of New Orleans musical legends, including the Neville Brothers on vocals (with brother Charles on saxophone), Pete Fountain on clarinet, and the aforementioned Al Hirt on trumpet.  Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!!!!!